New crack down on overweight luggage

Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag policies.

They're also cracking down on overweight and oversized bags that can
cause injuries to their employees. American, Southwest and US Airways
have changed policies within the past few months. (See chart at end of
story)

"There was a lot of winking going on in the past," says Thom Nulty,
Aloha Airlines' senior vice president. "Now we're monitoring it very
closely to collect what's owed us."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nitoring_x.htm

"Paradise" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag policies.

They're also cracking down on overweight and oversized bags that can
cause injuries to their employees. American, Southwest and US Airways
have changed policies within the past few months. (See chart at end of
story)

"There was a lot of winking going on in the past," says Thom Nulty,
Aloha Airlines' senior vice president. "Now we're monitoring it very
closely to collect what's owed us."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nitoring_x.htm

Good post! However, in our experience, on certain flights, the airline
won't take a bag over 50 lbs even if you are prepared to pay the extra fee.
Passengers need to check the airline and the route if they expect a bag
heavier than the 50 pound limit.

"Paradise" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag policies.

They're also cracking down on overweight and oversized bags that can
cause injuries to their employees. American, Southwest and US Airways
have changed policies within the past few months. (See chart at end of
story)

"There was a lot of winking going on in the past," says Thom Nulty,
Aloha Airlines' senior vice president. "Now we're monitoring it very
closely to collect what's owed us."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nitoring_x.htm

Good post! However, in our experience, on certain flights, the airline
won't take a bag over 50 lbs even if you are prepared to pay the extra fee.
Passengers need to check the airline and the route if they expect a bag
heavier than the 50 pound limit.

Paradise wrote:
Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag
policies.

Very interesting article. Thanks for posting the link.

I know the article said that different areas of the plane have
different weight limits (the reason why someone could carry on the
extra poundage that couldn't be checked). But, I think that's more to
ease the burden of baggage carriers - so they don't have to hoist 51+
lb. bags.

What if everyone was given a weight allowance - total weight including
luggage, your carry-ons AND your actual body weight. Let's say 300 lbs.
That way, a slender 120 lb. person could bring 180 lbs. of luggage with
no surcharge (no piece weighing more than 50 lbs. to spare the baggage
handlers' backs) and someone who weighs 300 pounds would have to pay a
surcharge for the added weight/fuel cost that they're inflicting on the
airline. Anyone up to 200 lbs. can still bring two big suitcases and a
carry-on and stay below the 300 lb. limit. Weigh more? Bring less
luggage.

Just throwing an idea out there. I'm of average weight - could use to
lose 10-20 lbs. But, I know that my total weight - body weight and
luggage weight - still falls below some passengers' body weight alone.
Just doesn't seem fair to me that I would get penalized for burdening
the plane with too much luggage weight, when the other excess weight on
board is overlooked.

Lee

This has absolutely nothing to do with the safety of their employees. It
has to do with a way to increase revenue. If it was a safety issue, they
wouldn't take that 74 pound bag for an additional $40, they would say no. I
very seriously doubt that the baggage handler sees any of the increased fee.

It's opening a whole new market for light weight luggage though, having a
bag that weighs 18 pounds when the limit is now 50 is causing a lot of
people to get new luggage.



"Paradise" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag policies.

They're also cracking down on overweight and oversized bags that can
cause injuries to their employees. American, Southwest and US Airways
have changed policies within the past few months. (See chart at end of
story)

"There was a lot of winking going on in the past," says Thom Nulty,
Aloha Airlines' senior vice president. "Now we're monitoring it very
closely to collect what's owed us."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nitoring_x.htm

This has absolutely nothing to do with the safety of their employees. It
has to do with a way to increase revenue. If it was a safety issue, they
wouldn't take that 74 pound bag for an additional $40, they would say no. I
very seriously doubt that the baggage handler sees any of the increased fee.

It's opening a whole new market for light weight luggage though, having a
bag that weighs 18 pounds when the limit is now 50 is causing a lot of
people to get new luggage.



"Paradise" wrote in message
oups.com...
Saddled with increased fuel costs and looking for more revenue,
airlines are raising prices and tightening their checked-bag policies.

They're also cracking down on overweight and oversized bags that can
cause injuries to their employees. American, Southwest and US Airways
have changed policies within the past few months. (See chart at end of
story)

"There was a lot of winking going on in the past," says Thom Nulty,
Aloha Airlines' senior vice president. "Now we're monitoring it very
closely to collect what's owed us."


http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...nitoring_x.htm

I think they need to limit some of these carry on bags. People bringing
what should be checked as carry ons no room in the overheads!
I fly somewhere once a month. the guy in front of me on the last plane
had his Cello sitting in front of the seat with a seat belt on. that
was suppose to be my seat but i was not sitting with a cello so took
the seat behind him.
the whole orchestra was on there with their instruments at least they
could have played a song!

It's opening a whole new market for light weight luggage though, having a
bag that weighs 18 pounds when the limit is now 50 is causing a lot of
people to get new luggage.


If you know of a good line of reasonably priced, strong, lightweight
luggage, please post it here. Light, to most manufacturers, seems to be 10%
less than the regular stuff which can weight 12-18 pounds depending on the
size.

In my opinion, there is a wide open market out there for a 29 inch bag that
weights less than 8 pounds and an 23 inch that weighs less than 6.

It's opening a whole new market for light weight luggage though, having a
bag that weighs 18 pounds when the limit is now 50 is causing a lot of
people to get new luggage.


If you know of a good line of reasonably priced, strong, lightweight
luggage, please post it here. Light, to most manufacturers, seems to be 10%
less than the regular stuff which can weight 12-18 pounds depending on the
size.

In my opinion, there is a wide open market out there for a 29 inch bag that
weights less than 8 pounds and an 23 inch that weighs less than 6.

American tourister and Samsointe have both rolled out some very light
luggage, nylon instead of metal supports, hybrid bags with half hard side,
half fabric, etc. It's making for some very good prices on last year's
stuff at the factory outlets.

If you have an AAA store near by and are a member, they may have some of the
new stuff in at a very good price.

Check e-bags.com, they are quite good at giving size and weight, and also
have a new section for lightweight luggage, though don't expect any huge
savings there.





"its_my_dime" (hold the spam) wrote in message
...



It's opening a whole new market for light weight luggage though, having
a
bag that weighs 18 pounds when the limit is now 50 is causing a lot of
people to get new luggage.


If you know of a good line of reasonably priced, strong, lightweight
luggage, please post it here. Light, to most manufacturers, seems to be
10%
less than the regular stuff which can weight 12-18 pounds depending on the
size.

In my opinion, there is a wide open market out there for a 29 inch bag
that
weights less than 8 pounds and an 23 inch that weighs less than 6.